“Democratic National Convention – Invesco” (CC BY 2.0) by Kelly DeLay
More than 100 law enforcement agencies canceled their security agreements to send their officers to provide security at the Democratic National Convention in August. The reason is mainly the recent restrictions on law enforcement’s use of tear gas and pepper spray when responding to violent riots.
Ban on tear gas makes police work unsafe
In June, Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales received an order to prohibit the department’s policies to ban the use of tear gas and pepper spray.
In case you didn’t hear,
Over 100 police agencies have pulled out of an agreement to protect the DNC Convention in Milwaukee.
Who can blame them?
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) July 29, 2020
“Since the Milwaukee order was issued, more than 100 law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin and across the country decided against coming to Milwaukee, Morales told WTMJ-TV on Tuesday,” The Associated Press wrote. “They were concerned with directives placed on the police department, including not allowing tear gas or pepper spray, he said.”
In Wisconsin, Franklin Police Chief Rick Oliva added, “It is apparent there is a lack of commitment to provide the Milwaukee Police Department with the resources it needs to ensure the safety of peaceful protesters, attendees, citizens, and police personnel. I can not send personnel if they are not properly equipped or will not be allowed to engage in appropriate actions that would ensure their safety.”
WATCH: police agencies backing out of DNC in Milwaukee https://t.co/3zLex1n0sL pic.twitter.com/MpsnQSGfbm
— KNSS Radio (@knssradio) July 29, 2020
Waukesha Police Chief Daniel Thompson confirmed that his department would not be sending officers to the event either, “I understand that use of chemical irritants and pepper spray is serious and those are to be used only when legally justified. But when you take that out of the continuum that doesn’t leave the officers much other than getting harmed or using deadly force and that’s not good for any officer or the public.”
Demonization of police
This message comes as violent left-wing riots have spread across multiple cities across the U.S. since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“Unfortunately, some have chosen to respond to George Floyd’s death in a far less productive way – by demonizing the police, promoting slogans like ACAB (All Cops Are Bastards), and making grossly irresponsible proposals to defund the police,” Attorney General William Barr remarked to the Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. “The demonization of police is not only unfair and inconsistent with the principle that all people should be treated as individuals, but gravely injurious to our inner-city communities. There is no harder job in America today than being a police officer.”
Last month, Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN) said that police were a “cancer” adding, “we are saying we don’t want your damn reforms.”
“The Minneapolis Police Department is rotten to the root, and so when we dismantle it, we get rid of that cancer, and we allow for something beautiful to rise, and that reimagining allows us to figure out what public safety looks like for us,” Omar said.
